Saturday, December 12, 2009

2010 Party Trend

December is the month to party, to celebrate the festive season, the year gone by and the new year that will start soon.

For this party season, look from within this season's trends: colour tones from black tones to bright pinks to metallic greys, shine and bling, short and mini dresses, classic sheath, metallics, one-shouldered dresses and tops, super high platform heels (Victoria Beckham's style), animal prints, sequins and a key accessory piece.

No matter what you wear, make sure to use your girl power: frills, ruffles (Moschino), sheer fabrics (Givenchy), high neckline and beautifully draped sleeves. And emphasise the hourglass shape, i.e. focus on the waist while making your shoulders and hips look wider.
What to wear winter 2009-2010 party season?

Black

Balck is the party colour this season (has always been though) but this season it is the top colour in colour palette of every designer - they have used at least one outfit in black.

Little black dresses are the best bet, but not only staples they have a trendy twist. Pick one with one-shoulder or go strapless with embellishments or some bling.

We like Demi Moore's classic single-shoulder RM by Roland Mouret dress that she wore with peep-toe pumps at the L.A. launch of Roland Mouret's exclusive Rainbow Collection for Net-a-Porter.
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Don't want to go all black?
This season, dresses in two or more colours are hot, the combined look of two colurs looks fresh and stylish. This colour blocking trend has been with us for two seasons and hasn't lost its popularity.

Colour block black with the shades of red, white, metallics or even pastels. Natalia Vodianova wore a satin peach and black colour blocked dress during the Louis Vuitton Pret a Porter show as part of the Paris Womenswear Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2010. This style would make heads turn to you, feminine, sophisticatd and sexy, it certainly is the way to party.


Natalia Vodianova at Paris Womenswear Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2010
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Bright Pink

One of the hottest colours and must have of this Fall and Winter 2009/2010 is Bright Pink. The various shades of pink were everywhere in the winter 2009/2010 and is a great pick for your party wear.
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Party in pink, the colour is feminine, sexy and fun and would create a bold and fashionable you. Choose from brights to deep pinks, close to fuchsia tone.

How to wear?
Pink can always be combined with other colors, like black, gray, and cream and also with neon palette.

A bright pink shift dress is a smart pick, you can wear it with a jacket in the day and for the night, just take off the jacket, and some accessories and you are ready to party.

We like the way Hilary Duff paired her Bright Pink sheath dress with a black jacket, look great on her. Paired with the nude shoes, she looks taller and sexier.
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Hilary Duff on the set of The Business of Falling in Love
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You can also accessorise with the bright pink colour to glam up your look this party season. Turn heads with a scarf, handbag, shoes or another accessory. Team your LBD with a pair of hot pink heels - grey is another glam colour for this party season and goes well with pink.


One Shouldered or Asymmetric Necklines

From single-shouldered dresses to tops and bikinis, asymmetric shoulder-lines have been one of the most raved about trends for the 2009 and are popular this party season too.

Showing off one-shoulder in a dress can be subtly sexy and interesting on the eye, and the possibilities for how to wear it are numerous. You can pick a sexy one-shouldered dress, or choose a smart one-shouldered top and pair it with slim fit jeans, high heeled shoes and chunky earrings.

For a dress, you can choose from a simple and even have a casual look or can go for a feminine and sophisticated style, or something more flirty and sexy, a style perfect for party wear.


High on the thigh

This season, the emphasis is all on your toned legs, not the cleavage. Super short dresses are THE THING to wear this party season. From Gwen Stefani, Naomi Campbell to Heidi Klum, all are sporting this trend. There are lots of girls who love short skirts. So cheers ladies and get excited, this is your time to wear those sexy skirts (see Jessica Stroup below) and hit the party circuit flaunting those gorgeous short pieces!

You can go short with high hemline, like Gwen Stefani in the black number, or can choose to show your neck like Sarah Jessica Parker in her L'Wren Scott jacquard minidress.
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Gwen Stefani at Sherlock Holmes World Premiere (left) and
Sarah Jesica Parker at Meet the Morgans Premiere (right)

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And the best way to wear them? With thigh high or over-the-knee boots.


2. Makeup trend for this party season

A good make-up can really turn heads, so make sure to pay special attention to you makeup this party season. From the make-up trends, matt skin is really popular this winter. Shiny is out, go for pale skin with natural tints, rosy cheeks (pink, pink-blue, peach to natural-tan hues). Make sure you match your blush with either your eyes or your lips.

Your lips should look tender and innocent. Winter 2009-2010 lip color palette range from slightly pink, violet, fuchsia to extremely pale, almost skin-fitting-hue.

Steer away from lip glosses or shiny lips. If you choose to go red on lips, keep the rest of the look simple and team it with colourless eyes. Go red in Gwen Stefani way.

Eyes are the most important part of this season make up trend. There’ll be two extremes for the eyes: smoky-smoky and almost naked ones. Bright colors fit paleness. And this season, keep aside your fake lashes, emphasis is more on the eye shadows then the long lashes. Compensate the lashes with shaded dark pencil at the out corner of the eye line. Thick black and brown eyebrows are in this winter 2009-2010, as they brightly contour the eye shadow.

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NEW YEAR PARTY STYLE GUIDE - must haves
BEAUTY REGIME FOR WINTER
Nail Trend Fall and Winter 2009/2010
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Monday, December 7, 2009

Food for Healthy and Shiny Hair

The main problems of unhealthy hair are stress, hormonal imbalance, digestive problems and inadequate nutrition.



Having a good diet comprising of nutritious food coupled with excersises that would de-stress you is a great way to ensure that you have healthy hair. And with that you'll also get a glowing skin as added bonus.

Deficiency of certain vitamins and fat (that's right, dieting is bad for your hair) cause hairfall. Girls (or guys) if you are on a low-fat diet you might be at risk of losing hair because fats are necessary for absorbing Vitamin A and E which are a must for healthy hair.

Moreover, you also need to ensure that you have sufficient intake of Vitamin B12. Vitamin B12's association with hair growth has to do with its assistance of oxygen transportation throughout the body. Hair, just like most body parts, requires oxygen to grow properly.

So if you are having a hair loss problem, it could be because of vitamin B12 deficiency. Water-soluble vitamins, such as vitamin B12, are not stored in the body as easily as fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamins A, D, E and K. For this reason, it is important to ensure that daily recommended allowances of vitamin B12 are consumed each day. If this is accomplished, hair can grow much more normally and prevent hair loss.

Other essential nutrients are - Vitamin B complex, Vitamin C, proteins and carbohydrates. Find below a list of foods which are rich in the above mentioned nutrients:
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- Protein: Beans or legumes like kidney beans and lentils should be an important part of your hair-care diet. Not only do they provide plentiful protein to promote hair growth, but ample iron, zinc, and biotin. While rare, biotin deficiencies can result in brittle hair.

- Vitamin A: pumpkin, dried apricot, carrot and spinach.Dark green vgetables lie spinach and broccoli are an excellent source of vitamin A (and also Vitamin C). This is needed by your body to produce sebum. The oily substance, secreted by your hair follicles, is the body's natural hair conditioner. Dark green vegetables also provide iron and calcium.

- Vitamin E: wheat germ, almond, avocado and coconut.

- Healthy fats to absorb Vitamin A and E: Cold pressed oil like extra virgin olive oil, mustard oil, and coconut oil. Omega 3 fatty acids like flax seeds and walnuts are also very good.
- Vitamin B-complex: Available in most food items rich in carbohydrates like wheat and rice.
- Vitamin C: berries (like amla), lemon, oranges and guavas (these have four times more Vitamin C than any other fruits).

- Nuts: Brazil nuts are one of nature's best sources of selenium, an important mineral for the health of your scalp. Walnuts contain alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid that may help condition your hair. Cashews, pecans, and almonds, in addition to walnuts, are an excellent source of zinc. A zinc deficiency can lead to hair shedding, so make sure nuts are a regular on your healthy hair menu.

An overall balanced diet of lean proteins, fruits, and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and low-fat dairy will help keep hair healthy.

EXCERCISE

Proper blood circulation promotes nourishment of the hair follicles and these result in hair that is healthier and more in volume. Stress is one of the biggest cause of hair problems. So excercising regularly will not only give you a fab body but will als help you relax and feel happy, and this combination will give you healthy hair.

Breathing excercises (particularly yoga) that boost blood circulation are good for your hair. A combination of brisk walking and jogging for 20 minutes coupled with some stretching would also benefit your health.

Image Source

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Sunday, December 6, 2009

BEAUTY REGIME FOR WINTER

Come Winter and the skin and hair become dull and lifeless. Freezing weather, lack of sunshine combined with exposure to heaters can be unkind to delicate skin and hence it becomes essential to follow a strict beauty regime and take care of your skin.

Some tips to keep your skin and hair in good shape:

- WASHING FACE: Washing your face with warm water twice a day would help to open and clean out the pores and that using cold water straight afterwards helps to close them again.

- MOISTURISE, MOISTURISE, MOISTURISE: Its absolutely essential during winter even for those with oily skin. The skin loses its moisture and becomes itchy, dry and lifeless. Therefore, use a good rich body crem to keep your body and face soft and supple.

You could add some almond oil to your bath water and soak in the water for a few minutes,that would leve your skin moisturised. Or else, try some good after bath body oil as its great for dry skin and does not make it greasy. I use Grapeseed Softening Body Oil from the 'Botanics' range of Boots. It comes in a spray and makes the skin very soft.

Aloe Vera gel or plant extract is also a good moisturiser. The plant is known for its healing properties against cuts, wounds and burns.

- BATHING: Do not use very hot water for bathing, as it makes skin dry. Use warm water instead, it will keep skin well moisturised and soft. Use a good creamy body wash, like Vanilla and Cocoa Shower Cream by Original Source. It smells great, cleanses skin and leaves it soft.

- EXFOLIATE: Exfoliating is a great way to get rid of dull skin and stimulate new skin growth. A good exfoliation will re-energise the skin, and get rid of the top layer of life less winter skin. Do this once or twice a month to keep yourself looking and feeling gorgeous.

Hip US brand Malin+Goetz has created a Detox Face Mask (£15 at www.liberty.co.uk) that is, literally, bursting with oxygen as it fizzes and foams on contact with skin to gently exfoliate away impurities, leaving nothing less than a radiant complexion (Source: Vogue).

- USE SPF: Just because the sun is not showing, you still need to protect skin from UV rays. Wear a cream or a sunscren lotion with minimum of SPF 15 during the day.

- CONDITION HAIR: Winter makes hair dry, frizzy and brittle. A good conditoner is a must for this season. To bring in shine to your hair, you could also consider washing them with mineral water (yah it sounds cazy, but it works). Also, trying washing with cold water, do not use hot water to wash hair. It would make them dry and brittle.

Dull locks can be revived with Great Lengths Anti Tap Water pH Regulator (£12 at www.greatlengthshair.co.uk) that is, fabulously, a "descaler" for the hair that breaks downs limescale build-up which can occur from inner-city hard water (Source: Vogue).

- Avoid HAIR STYLING that uses heat: During winters its advisable to limit use blow dryers, straighteners and curlers. If you have must use an appliance, condition your hair first - the sudden use of heat in cold weather can make hear weak.

Please share your winer beauty tips in the comments section.
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Related Posts:
Laura Mercier Crème de Pistache

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Laura Mercier Crème de Pistache

Laura Mercier's Crème de Pistache, its Bath and Body Collection is completely delectable. It smells great and feels great on skin. The collection includes Soufflé Body Crème, Body Scrub and Honey Bath.
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The Soufflé Body Crème is rich and luxurious, leaving your skin smell great and moistured all day long. Just a little cream on the body and you will feel great. Unlike usual rich creams, it does not make your skin greasy or makes it feel too heavy. Just the right amount of moisture you require. The smell is great, it not just smells of pistacio but has hint of almond, praline, and hazelnut. Try it and you are sure going to love it.


The Body Scrub is equally good, it uses crushed pistachio shells for exfoliation, removing dead skin and leaving your skin soft and smooth. It smells great and is a great buy. Have been looking for a great scrub since long and this one is just perfect.


I haven't tried the Honey Bath, but have heard good reviews of the product. Its made from natural ingredients and they say 'it leaves the skin feel fresh and supple'.


At $46 for the body scrub, $40 for the honey bath and $55 for the body cream its a bit expensive, but it is good to pamper and indulge yourself in luxury. And for those who are looking for something to fit your budget, you must try the bath and body products from the skincare brand Naked, they are made from natural ingredients and are crueltyfree. Click here to know more about it.

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